MeetCanadian BrassPage 2

State of the Art • October 2019 Volume 9 • Issue 2

The Philharmonic Receives Multiple GrantsPage 4

The Choruses are Calling!Page 3

Once upon a time, I was a brass major. My instrument in high school was the baritone horn, and I kept that as my

major through undergrad. I have no idea where it is now. After college, it remained at my parents’ home, I think, where it may have found use as host for a floral arrangement or possibly became part of a fountain my dad made for the backyard.

One of my first attempts at composition was a duet for baritone horn and tuba, written my sophomore year in high school as a graduation present for a friend who played the latter instrument. It was, as I now recall, short and distressingly repetitive and kept modulating all on its own until it descended into the cumbersome key of C-flat major. At that point, I had to finish it to be ready to present it, and I lacked the skill to know how to modulate to a more user-friendly key anyway, so there it sat, collapsed under all of those flats. Rest in peace, piece, wherever you are.

Ten years ago I composed for brass again, supplying a dedicatory fanfare to celebrate the opening of the KSU Performing Arts Center (yes, it’s been 10 years). I have had it in mind to

expand that work but had to set such aspirations aside in favor of other projects. In 2017 a commission came from Dr. Otis French, then at the University of Mount Union, to compose a work for performance by an alumni brass choir on homecoming weekend. One suggestion was to base the work on a hymn tune, and that led me to write “Voluntaries on the Old 100th.”

For this performance with the Philharmonic, I have added string parts and expanded percussion to incorporate more of the orchestra on a program that will already feature brass instruments. The familiar tune is heard in various iterations—from a nebulous beginning with phrases echoing from offstage to a resounding full-throated concluding chorale. In between, there are four variations on the tune. One is playfully lilting, another samples the antiphonal style of Giovanni Gabrieli, while another in minor mode is darkly dramatic. I enjoyed employing the full resources of the brass family while exploring the musical material, and I managed to stay out of C-flat major altogether.

Eric Benjamin, Music Director and Conductor

Eric on Writing for Brass

TUSCARAWAS PHILHARMONIC

Friends Chuck Daellenbach and Gene Watts first came together in 1970 to form a brass quintet—a chamber music setting not entirely new, but never before hav-

ing garnered the success and storied career Canadian Brass would achieve over the next 50 years.

Masters of concert presentations, Canadian Brass has developed a uniquely engaging stage presence

and rapport with audiences. Each of their concerts shows their full range from trademark Baroque

and Dixieland tunes to new compositions and arrangements created especially for them—

from formal classical presentations to mu-sic served up with lively dialogue and

theatrical effects. The hallmark of any Canadian Brass performance is

entertainment, spontaneity, vir-tuosity and, most of all, fun—

but never at the expense of the music.

Whatever the style, the music

is central

and performed with utmost dedication, skill and excellence.With a discography of over 130 albums and an extensive

world-wide touring schedule, Canadian Brass is an important pioneer in bringing brass music to mass audiences everywhere. They have sold more than two million albums worldwide.

Touring legends with an enthusiastic fan base, the Cana-dian Brass play to packed houses everywhere throughout the U.S.A., Canada, Japan and Europe. They have also toured Aus-tralia, the Middle East, the Soviet Union and South America. They were the first brass ensemble from the West to perform in the People’s Republic of China, where they returned for a five-city tour to great acclaim in the spring of 2010 and several visits after this, including an appearance on Hunan TV for Chi-nese New Year. They were also the first brass group to take the main stage at the venerable Carnegie Hall.

The varied Canadian Brass repertoire features brass stan-dards, as well as a wide-ranging library of original arrange-ments. These include the works of Renaissance and Baroque masters, classical works, marches, holiday favorites, ragtime, Dixieland, Latin, jazz, big band, Broadway and Christian music, as well as popular songs and standards. Having started with a very limited base, Canadian Brass has created their own musi-cal world by transcribing, arranging and commissioning more than 600 works, including critically acclaimed compositions from Michael Kamen, Luther Henderson, Bramwell Tovey, Don

Gillis and more.

Canadian BrassThe World’s Most Famous Brass Group

To learn more about Canadian Brass—their educational programs, tour schedule, discography and merchandise—visit www.canadianbrass.com

•

• Adult ChorusThe Adult Chorus will begin rehearsals for The Messiah on Saturday, October 19, from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Rehearesals will be held in the Performing Arts Center rehearsal room, as the ensemble prepares for the December 1 concert.

Subsequent rehearsals will be held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings—see the website for the full schedule.

This year’s performance will be held at the Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek.

• Children’s Yuletide ChorusIn preparation for the Yuletide concert on December 14, “Holiday Journeys,” the Children’s Yuletide Chorus will begin rehearsals on Saturday, October 26, from 9:00 to 10:00 am.

Any child in the community aged 7 to 14 is invited to join the chorus for this special concert. Tell your friends!

Rehearsals will be held at the Performing Arts Center—see the website for the full schedule.

The Choruses are Calling!SOLO

AUDITIONSSingers in the community who would be interested in being considered for solo work in the future may submit a recording for the files. This would not be an audition for a specific work but would be kept for general reference purposes.

Audio files can be mailed to:

Tuscarawas Philharmonic P.O. Box 406 New Philadelphia, OH 44663

No sound files by e-mail will be accepted. The recording should demonstrate the singer’s capabilities, range, and style preference and need not be a professional recording, although it should be of reasonable quality. Previously existing recordings are acceptable but should be recent enough to represent the singer accurately now.

Be sure to include contact information and a short resume. Recordings will not be returned.

www.TuscarawasPhilharmonic.org

• Tuscarawas Philharmonic • P.O. Box 406 • New Philadelphia, OH 44663• www.TuscarawasPhilharmonic.org • State of the Art editor: Robyn Martins• Performing at the Kent State Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center • Box Office—330.308.6400

Holiday journeys — think of trips to grandmother’s

house, sleigh rides, the wanderings of Magi or

a magical train ride to the heart of the

holidays — travels are a compelling image

that we explore in the glorious music of the

season, featuring music from the movie, “The

Polar Express,” with The Tuscarawas Philharmonic

Children’s Chorus.

In recent months, the Tuscarawas Philharmonic has been the fortunate recipient of several grants, through the grant-writing expertise of Diane Lautenschleger, Partnership Development, Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau:

• The Harold C. and Marjorie Q. Rosenberry Foundation• The Tuscarawas County Community Foundation• The Haman Foundation• Ohio Arts Council

Funds received will be put to good use, providing sound equipment and uniform essentials for the Children’s Chorus. We have also purchased a new printer, timpani heads, music folders and audio-visual recording equipment.

Funds will also help fund major educational programs, such as the Carnegie Hall Link Up program and Sing Out, our new children’s chorus festival scheduled for next spring.

We are grateful for the support of our community, both local and statewide.

The Philharmonic Receives Multiple Grants